Machine for paring, coring, and halving pears



'Oct. 28, 1947. G. A. DUNN 2,429,749

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CURING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Fi ed Sept. 9. 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 M N. w m 1 m a ll L 5 m :5 5 7 3 6 n E 5 ll 5 49/ Q I: w & w I||I|I|.I O O i 7d 7 1W t 5 I1 I! III 1| 5 a /////%V- m 5 AW /.7 A w: w

A Y /A/ n u r m g. l m m L W w 1 O N 1 o 7 3 u m. 8 7 m h i- 3 II I. 7 W M NHL? //n v 1 4P. q\\ \v M w m m a n G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 28, 1947. G. A. DUNN 2,429,749

MACHINE FOR PARING, CURING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 M ivy fl damn VII G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

CHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS i5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 i Ril Mm 2 Fu Oct. 28, 1947.

e. A. DUNN MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 w m W a u w L wwd mN m uXAU: W x w m w M U 0a 28, 1941. G.A. DUNN 2,429,149

MACHINE FOR PARING, CURING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 G. A. DUNN Get. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 Oct. 28, 1947. A, D N 2,429,749

IIACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND BALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 1o Oct. 28, 1947. G. A. DUNN 2,429,749

I MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9. 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING PEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 G. A. DUNN I Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, (JORING, AND HALVING FEARS l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 Original Fileq Sept. 9, 1940 0 1 Z I H a. mum/il fwfiamw 4. J v u :2 M00. 1. B I I; 1 w w M 1 4 1 4 5 F W z 1 H v 1 M 4 m 34 m H W x m WT .1. 1 a 1 a .L M E O J m 1. 1 1 8 w 1 a M m i G. A. DUNN Oct. 28, 1947.

MACHINE FOR PARING, CORING, AND HALVING FEARS 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Original Filed Sept. 9, 1940 Rn Emu m9; uzituhi m 25 HEN 05452;

L 9 ZIU wrzkou Patented Oct. 28, 1947 MACHINE FOR PARING, C(iRlNG, AND HALVING PEARS Guy A. Dunn, Oakland, Calif., asslgnor to California' Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calii., a corporationoi New York Original application September 9, 1940, Serial No. 355,988. Divided and this application June .28, 1943, Serial No. 492,481

' 15 Claims.

This invention relates to a pear preparation machine and method and more particularly to a continuous pear preparation machine and method for use in the preparation of pears for application, Serial No. 355,988, filed September 9, 1940, for Pear peeling machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of peeling pears wherein the pears are mounted in effect upon a rod or tube which passes through the stem'axis of the pear and in which method the operations of peeling, splitting, coring and trimming of the pear are performed while the pear is supported from its said axis.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pear peeling machine in which there is provided a peeling head having rotary peeling elements and where the pear to be peeled is supported with relation to the peeling elements on a stemming tube and guide member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pear preparation machine in which the elements for preparing the pear are vertically aligned and operable for the successive stemming, peeling, splitting and coring oi the pear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pear preparation machine including a continuously operating rotary turret, means therein for gripping the pear from its opposed ends for holding the pear in the gripped position, means for peeling the pear while it is so gripped and for moving the pear from the peeling position in the continuously operating turret to a position of splitting, coring and trimming.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pear preparation machine including a coring unit having core or seed-pod-removing elements, a pear guide means operative to guide the pear from its stem axis, and a means for trimming or peeling the calyx end of the pear during the core or seed-pod-removing operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pear preparation machine including a splitting blade which has incorporated therein a guide means for guiding the pear from its stem axis, and means for moving the pear over the splitting blade as it is guided from its stem axis to cut the pear into halves.

/2 Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in vertical section or the pear preparation machine embodying my invention.

elevation f the upper portion of the operating turret of the pear preparation machine embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken 16 substantially on the line 3-3 of Fi re .1.

Figure 4 is a Iragmental sectional elevation of the stemming tube actuating means embodied in my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational through the peeling head and stemming tube and guide embodied in my invention, the figure being broken away with the lower portion of the view included to the right of the upper portion thereof.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation through the upper portion of the peeling head illustrating the upper cutting elements.

Figure '7 is a plan view partly in-section taken substantially on the line l-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detached-view partly in vertical section of the yoke member supporting a peeling cutter,

Figure 9 is a view taken at right-angles to that oi Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detached elevation of the stemming tube assembly embodied in my invention.

Figure 11 is an end sectional view of the peeler cutting drive means taken substantially on the line ll-ll of Figure 5.

Figure 12 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line l2-l2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the lower peeling cutter.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the upper peeling cutter.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the guide member for the lower cutter of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the guide member for the upper cutter of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a front elevation of the transfer 50 pear clamps embodied in my invention.

Figure 18 is a top plan view 01' the guide clamps Figure 21s an enlarged iragmental sectional of Figure 17 illustrating the same in position with relation to the halving blade.

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the pear clamps.

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken-substantially on the line ZI-ZI of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a view of the slide member support of the pear clamps.

Figure 23 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 24-24 of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is asectlonal side elevation taken substantially on the line 25-25 of Figure 22.

Figure 26 is an elevation of the cam control slide for the pear clamps.

Figure 27 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 21-21 of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 28-28 of Figure 26.

Figure 29 is an elevation of the splitting blade with the fibre plug-ejecting tube in ejecting position.

Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 29 illus-' trating the stemming fibre-ejecting member in position of contact with a fragment of the coring plate.

Figure 31 is a side elevation of the splitting blade of Figure 29.

Figure 32 is a detached view of the stem fibre ejector plunger.

Figure 33 is an elevation oi. the coring and trimming unit.

Figure 34 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 34-34 of Figure 33.

Figure 35 is a plan view of the coring blade driving gears taken substantially on the line 35-35 of Figure 33 illustrating the lower gear as misplaced for the purpose of vision.

Figure 36 is a plan view taken substantially on the line 36-36 of Figure 33, illustrating the calyxtrimming blade driving gears.

Figure 37 is a plan view of the calyx-trimming blade holder.

Figure 38 is a plan view of the seed-pod-removing knives.

Figure 39 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on the line 39-39 of Figure 33.

Figure 40 is a sectional edge elevation of the coring and calyx-trimming unit.

Figure 41 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line 4I-4I of Figure 33.

Figure 42 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially on the line 42-42 of Figure 40.

Figure 43 is a cam layout drawing illustrating the cam surfaces and operating cycles of the respective cams employed in the continuous operating pear preparation machine and method embodying my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings I have shown'a continuous pear preparation machine and have indicated thereby apparatus which is suitable for carrying out the method embodying my invention.

In accordance with my invention, pears are fed into the feed ring I of the feed turret 2 with the neck of the pear projecting below the feed ring I. The operator then centers the calyx of the pear with relation to a center point 3. Relative As set forth in my co-pending application above referred to, the feed turret 2 is continuously rotating during this operation and the feed ring I and center 3 are in eifect given apause at the feed station permitting a greater period of time for the operator to feed the pear into the feed ring I and to center the calyx of the pear under the center point 3.

When the pear is thus positioned, a clamping plate I is actuated to engage the surface of the pear and hold the pear in the established position. As the pear moves around the turret, the neck of the pear is cut off below the feed ring I to sever the stem of the pear from the pear and also to establish a cut surface at right-angles to the established reference axis. A cutting disc 5 is provided in the path of movement of the pear for so cutting oil the stem end.

The pear as thus positioned is carried around the feed turret 2 to a position Where it is transferred to an operating turret. In the modification of my invention shown, this operating turret is a continuously operating or rotating turret in movement is effected between the feed ring I and which the operations of stemming, or removing the stem fibre-containing core along the stem axis previously established, is performed an in which the pear is peeled by a peeling means which may be of the form including upper and lower rotary cutters 6 and I and wherein the pear after being peeled is gripped between a pair of clamps 8 transferred across a halving blade 9 which splits the previously stemmed and peeled pear into two halves.

After passing over the splitting blade 9, the pear is moved over a coring plate II]. (Fi 33). On the coring plate III the seed-pod is removed through the medium of coring knives II and I2 and the calyx end and the calyx depression of the pear are trimmed and peeled by means of calyxtrimming knives I3.

The entire operation is carried out as a continuous operation and after the reference axis has been established through the pear and during the transfer of the pear from the feed turret 2 to the operating turret I4, the pear is impaled upon a stemming tube I5 which, as previously set forth, acts to remove the core along the stem axis of the fruit previously established in the feed turret, and which core contains the stem-containing fibres of the pear. The reference axis thus established in the feed turret becomes the axis along which the stemming tube I5 is thrust so that the pear is held on this axis during the peeling operation and the pear is thus held in definite position where the stemming tube I5 is thrust through the pear a distance which is determined by the resistance to upward movement of the pear established by the plate 4. This enables me to determine definitely the position of the seed-containing pod of the pear with relation to the position of the pear upon the stemming tube I5.

With the seed-pod thus determined, the clamps 8, in picking the pear off from the stemming tube I5, maintain the seed-pod in the definite sition previously determined so that as the pear is fed in effect along a continuation of the tube I5 to a position over the seed-pod-removing knives II and I2, it is assured that the seed-pod of the pear will be in registry with the seed knives so that the coring operation may be effectively carried out to remove that portion of the fruit which contains the seed-pod.

During the transfer of the pear from the stemming tube I5 to its position with relation to the seed-pod-removing knives H and I 2, and during the splitting of the pear by the splitting blade I.

- the pear is passed over effective continuations of the stemming tube i so that throughout movement of the pear it is guided along the reference axis established between the ring I and the center point 3 in the feed turret 2. Thus on the splitting blade 3 there is provided a stemming tube continuation l1 and on the coring plate I. there is provided a cylindrical element [3 which forms the further continuation of the rod or tube along which the pear is moved in being transferred over the respective elements of the machine.

The cutting 01! cf the stem end of the pear by the cutting disc 5 to establish the surface at right-- angles to the reference axis also establishes a flat surface at the stem end of the pear against which a stop collar I3 may b moved as hereinafter described to hold the pear from vertical downward movement during the peeling operation.

In order to hold the pear from rotation on the stemming tube l5 during the peeling operation, and also to maintain the pear in its position where the reference axis is established, I provide for the impaling of the pear from the calyx end with an impaling blade 25 which is carried by the splitting blade 3.

As set forth in-my co-pending application above referred to, the impaling blade 25 is moved to impale the pear when the center 3 and holding plate 4 are moved out of contact with .the pear and the pear has been moved into the control of the operating turret l4 upon the stemming tube The feed turret 2 and the operating turret H are geared together so that they-operate in timed relation. Thus the drive gear 2i which drives the sleeve shaft 22 of the feed turret meshes with the driven gear 23 which is carried by the spider 24 which is journaled upon the stationary column 25 of the operating turret.

The spider 24 has a plurality of arms25 having bosses 21 at their outer end into which drive rods 28 are secured. The drive rods 28 extend upwardly and are operatively connected to the peeling plate 29 and drive the peeling plate 29 around the stationary column 25.

Secured to the peeling plate 23 so as to be driven therewith is an outer column 30 which provides the drive column for driving the splitting blade 3 and the coring plate I. The drive column 30 is supported on a thrust bearing 3| from the upper end of the stationary column 25.

Above the bearing 3| there is mounted upon the stationary column 25 a cam cylinder 32 which provides the cam track 33 for operating the splitting blade 9 and its impaling blade 20, the cam track 34 for controlling the vertical position of the clamps 8, cam track .35 for controlling the opening and closing of the clamps, and the cam track 36 formed in the cover plate 31 of the cam cylinder 32 for actuating the coring knives H and I2 and the calyx-trimming knives l3.

Means are provided for actuating the stemming tube l5, which means include a stationary cam ring 38 which is secured to the column 25 and has formed therein a camway 39 in which the stemming tube actuating cam roller 40 is positioned to actuate a gear segment which meshes with,

a rack 42 for the raising and lowering of.-the stemming tube i5, as will hereinafter be specifically described.

as the pear is moved to the position to be transferred into -the' operating turret' H, the stemmingtube I5 is thrust upwardlythroughthe feed ring I to impale the pear alon t e. previously determined stem axis of the pear. The stemming tube and its operating means may be of any suitable or desirable construction and are herein illustrated as of the following construction:

The stemming tube I5 is secured to the upper end of a guide-tube 43, which guide tube 431s mounted to reciprocate within a sleeve 44. The sleeve 44 is in turn mounted within a cylindrical column 45, and this concentrically disposed sleeve and column arrangement is secured within a collax-'45 which is clamped by means of a split clamp 41 upon the end of arms 43 of a lower spider to rotate with the peeling plate 23.

In the foregoing description I have dealt only with one stemming tube assembly, and while the continuous operating pear preparation machine illustrated in the drawings has six peeling assemblies, and would also have a corresponding number of feed rings I of the feed turret 2, and a corresponding number of splitting blades 3 and coring plates ll, in the description of the invention as herein set forth I will confine myself to the description of the construction of one only of these integrated elements of the complete machine. 1

The guide tube 431s secured at its lower end 'by means of a connecting collar to' an operatingtube 5|. The operating tube 5| extends downwardly and it is closed at its lower end by means ofaplug 52. v k

Mounted within the lower end formed along the outer surface of the actuating tube 5| is the rack 42 by the medium of which the said stemming tube assembly is moved vertically to impale the stemming tube l5vinto the pear along the reference axis thereof.

The cam surface formed by the camway 39 is such as to complete the vertical movement of the stemming tube l5 during the interval of transfer of the pear from the transfer turret 2 to the operating turret l4. As set forth in my aforesaid co-pending application, the camway 33 is formed so that the stemming tube assembly is thereafter dropped after the rin I has opened to permit the pear to pass out of the ring I and to pass under the center 3 during the interval of transfer of the pear from the feed turret to the operating turret.

In order to hold the pear on the stemming tube ii at the position thus established by the impaling of the stemming tube l5 along the reference axis, I provide in connection with the stemming tube 5 a limit collar 53 which is then moved to position to engage the previously cutoff end of the pear and to support the pear in the position which has been determined by the center 2 and lock-plate 4 so that the relationship of the seed-pod of the pear as it is supported upon the stemming tube I5 is established with reference to the locked position of the pear in the feed turret. I

The collar 53 is secured to the end of a tube 54 and the tube 54 is in turn slidably mounted within the top-piece 55 of a guide cylinder 55. The guide cylinder 55 carries at its lower end a collar 51 through which the guide sleeve 43 slides. 1

Secured to the lower end of the tube 54 is a collar 58. Secured to the collar 58 is a brake ribbon 53, which ribbon extends downwardly within the sleeve 44 through a recess formed in the collars 51 and a longitudinal groove 80 formed in the outer periphery of the operating tube 5|. Secured to the collar 46 at its upper end are spaced cam plates 82: The cam plates 82 are secured at, their lower end to a brake plunger yoke 6| which extends around the operating tube 5|. Secured to the operating tube II by means of screws 63 is a brake cylinder 84 which provides shoulders 95 along which the inner edges of the cam plates 62 slide. The brake cylinder 64 at its outer end is provided with a collar 88 through which a tube 61 slides. The tube 67 is urged to move inwardly with relation to the collar 63 by means of a spring 88 which is mounted within the brake cylinder 64 positioned to engage the end of the collar 88 and engage a flange 69 formed at the end of the tube 51.

Mounted within the tube 91 is a brake plunger I which carries at its inner end a brake shoe 1| which is adapted to engage the surface of the brake ribbon 59. The plunger 10 is urged toward brake-applying position by means of a spring 12. The spring 12 is mounted within the tube 81 to engage a shoulder 13 formed on the plunger 10 and to engage an adjustment screw 74 at its opposite end. The adjustment screw 14 is threaded within the tube 61 so that by threading the same in or out, the pressure exerted by the spring 12 may be regulated. The collar 66 being threaded to the cylinder 64 also provides for adjustment of the pressure exerted by the spring 68 tending to force the tube 6'! inwardly to where its end engages a shoulder 75 formed on the plunger 10.

, A yoke '16 is secured to the tube 61. The yoke I6 carries at its inner end a pair of cam rollers 11 which are carried upon shafts 18. The shafts 18 extend inwardly to provide stops 19 which engage the end of the cylinder 84 to limit the inward movement of the tube 81, thereby limiting the application of pressure due to the spring 68 which tends to force the brake shoe H against the brake ribbon 59.

As the operating tube is moved downward under the influence of the segment 4|, the cam plates 62 slide under the cam rollers Ti so that when the plates 62 as they are viewed in Figure 5 move downwardly so that the inclined surfaces 80 of the cam plates pass under the cam roller 17, the yoke 16 is moved outwardly to relieve the pressure of the brake shoe 1| against the brake ribbon 59 permitting the stop collar to move downwardly when contacted by the cut' end of the pear. The friction between the plates is sufiicient to prevent the free falling of the collar; thus the stop collar is located with reference to the end of the pear prior to the upward movement of the stemming tube l5 to impale the pear.

Means are provided within the stemming tube assembly for ejecting from the stemming tube I5 the core of the pear which is cut from the pear by impaling the stemming tube along the stem axis. This core contains the stem fibre of the pear.

This means as herein illustrated includes a plug-ejector tube 8| which is slidably mounted within the sleeve 43 and is yieldably returned from ejecting position to eject by means of a spring 82. This spring 82 surrounds the ejector 8| below the connecting collar 50 and above the plug 83 which is secured to the lower end of the plunger cylinder 84. The plunger cylinder 84 is fitted within the operating tube 5| and surrounds the lower end of the ejector tube 8|. Theejector tube 8|. is closed at its upper end by means of a centrally bored cap 85.

Secured within the plug 83 is a shaft 88 upon which there is joumaled a cam roller 81. Formed in the operating tube 5| is a slot 88 through which the shaft 86 may move as the cam roller 81 engages a cam 89 (Figure 1) to actuate the ejector tube 8|. Connected with the shaft 86 is a hydraulic coupling 90 to which the water connecting conduit 9| is attached. Formed through the shaft 88 and through the plug 83 is a passage 92 through which water from the conduit 9| may pass into the interior of the ejector tube 8| to flush the stemming tube IS with water.

After the stemming tube has been impaled through the pear and the stop collar 53 has been locked in its position of engagement with the cut end of the pear, the splitting blade 9 with its impaling blade 20 is impaled into the pear from the calyx end. This impaling of the blade 20 into the pear from the calyx end occurs after the pear has been transferred into the operating turret 2 and the pear has passed out from under the center 3 and locking plate 4, as fully set forth in my copending application above referred to.

Any suitable or desirable means may be employed for actuating the impaling blade 20, but as herein illustrated, this means includes the mounting of the splitting blade 9 on a slide member 93. The slide member 93 is mounted to slide upon slide brackets 94 and 95 positioned within the cam cylinder 32. The slide brackets are supported from a. spider 96 which is secured to the driving column 30. Thus the brackets rotate with the column 30.

The slide 93 carries a cam roller 91 which rides in the camway 33. The camway is formed as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 43 to move the impaling blade 20 down to impale the pear from the calyx end and to remain in this position for a period of time sufiicient to permit the peeling operation to be performed by the lower peeling cutters 8 and the upper peeling cutters 1.

After the peeling operation is completed, the slide 93 is raised to move the pear out of the peeling zone after the pear has been gripped by the clamps 8 and passed over the splitting blade 9 by movement of the clamps 8. The splitting blade remains in this elevated position until it is returned to the transfer position to be impaled in another pear. The impaling blade 20 is of forked construction providing spaced blades which pass into the flesh of the pear upon opposite sides of the seed-pod, thereby avoiding'the necessity of thrusting the blade into the stem fibres of the pear surrounding the seed-pod. The forked construction also provides for a greater width of blade which more efiectively prevents rotation of the pear during the peeling operation.

The splitting blade 9 and impaling blade 20 as viewed in Figures 29 to 32, inclusive, are formed with an upper stemming tube section 98 which aligns with the stemming tube l5 and operates to cut a stem fibre plug or cylinder from the pear above the stemming tube l5. This plug would normally be retained in the stemming tube 98 so that a plug ejector 99 is provided. This ejector is formed as a rod I00 having a head I 0| at its upper end and a threaded ejector cap I02 at its lower end.

The assembly of the ejector 99 is mounted axially of the tube 98 and the ejector cap I02 is arrested in its movement through the tube 98 by means of a shoulder |03 formed in the tube 88. The tube 88 also forms the extension of the rod over which the pear is moved during the splitting of the pear forming a guide guiding the pear through the stem cavity formed by the combined actions of the stemming tubes I and 88. Therefore the pear is guided during the halving operation along its predetermined stem axis.

After the pear passes over the splitting blade 9 and is cut into halves and as it is carried by the clamps 8, it is moved vertically upward to pass over the coring plate I0 to align the seed cavity with the coring knives II and I2. During this vertical movement of the pear the halving blade 9 moves upwardly so thatthe head IOI of the ejector 99 engages the end surface I04 of the coring plate guide I8 with the result that the ejector 99 is arrested in its movement as the splitting blade 9 continues, its upward motion, thereby forcing the pear plug or cylinder out of the stemming tube 98 clearing the stemming tube for a subsequent operation.

With the pear thus located, the coring knives II and I2 are actuated to cut the seed-containing pod from the pear and at the same time the calyx trimming knives I3 are actuated to trim the calyx of the pear to complete any peeling which may be required at the upper end of the pear. Any suitable or desirable means may be utilized for effecting this operation and as herein illustrated, the coring plate I0 is supported within the cam cylinder 32 in position of vertical alignment with the splitting blade 8 and stemming tube I5 by means of supporting rods I 03, which rods are in turn secured to a top plate I01 of the bracket 94.

The coring plate assembly as herein illustrated is of the following construction and includes a plate section I08 which has a roughened surface I09 with which the cut surfaces of the pear are contacted to hold the pear from movement relative to the plate section I08. The plate section I08 has a coring knife recess IIO formed therein within which the coring knives II and I2 are positioned. This recess H0 is continued to form an enlarged calyx knife recess III within which the calyx knives I3 are positioned and operated. The plate section I08 is secured. by means of bolts II2 to a gear case base-I I3. Removably secured to the base H3 is a gear case cover II4. Journaled within the gear case thus formed is an actuating pinion II5 which has two gear teeth sections H6 and H1.

The pinion I I5 is formed as an extension of the operating shaft I I8 and is formed with a stud extension II9 journaled in a recess formed in the base II3.

The shaft section H8 is joumaled within a cylindrical extension I20 of the cover H4 and is secured to a coupling I2 I by means of which the shaft section I I8 is coupled with the driving shaft I22.

The upper gear teeth II 6 mesh with companion pinions I23 and I24. These pinions are secured to shafts I25 and I26, respectively. These shafts are mounted in parallel relation and are journaled at their upper ends in the cover II4. Each of the shafts I25 and I26 is provided with a lateral extending securing arm I21 to which its respective pinion is secured by means of a cap screw I28. The arms I21 provide spacers between the gears and between the pinion I24 and the driven pinion I29- The driven pinion I29 meshes with the lower gear section II1 of the ear H5 and is formed as an extension of the 10 sleeve I30 which is Journaled within the guide bossl3lofthebasell3.

The two shafts I and I26 pass through the sleeve I and support the coring knives I3 and I4 within the recess I I0.

The shafts I25 and I26 are of reduced diameter and extend beyond the recess H0 and are journaled within the cylindrical guide I8 which is mounted on the coring plate section I08. The pinions I23 and I24 are provided with arcuate cutaways I32 (Figure within which the shafts of the other of said pinions operate. Secured to the lower end of the sleeve I30 is a carrier I33 to which shanks I34 of the calyx-trimming knives are secured.

The coring knives II and I2 are oppositely sharpened so that their cutting edges I35 are oppositely directed as indicated in Figure 38. The knives are. oscillated and pass respectively around the seed-pods of each half of the fruit, and are returned to their position within the plane of the coring plate section I08.

Means. are provided for oscillating the coring knives II and I2 and the calyx trimming knives I3, which means may be of any suitable construction and are herein illustrated as including a cam roller I36 carried on a shaft to ride within the camway 36 formed in the cover 31 of the cam cylinder 32. Secured to an arm carried by the said shaft is a gear segment I31. The gear segment I31 meshes with-a pinion I38 carried by the shaft I22. Thus as the coring plate assembly passes around the operating turret, the oscillation of'the gear segment I31 results in rotation of the shaft I 22 to oscillate the coring knives I I and I2 and calyx trimming knives I3.

Any suitable or desirable means may be employed for actuating the clamps 8 to cause the same to grip the pear and transfer the pear from the peeling means over the splitting blade 9 and to position upon the coring plate I0. As herein illustrated, these means are a slide frame I39 mounted within the cam cylinder 32 to slide on guides I40. Mounted to slide within the slide I39 is a slide I H. Carried at the lower end of the guide frame I40 is a yoke I42. The yoke I42 .pivotally supports on pivot pins I43 the arms.

I44. Also supported'by the yoke I42 on pivot pins I45 are parallel arms I46.

. upon pivot pins I49 carried by the arms I 41.

In order to yieldably resist rotation of the arcuate frames I48 is a flat spring I50 carried by the spring brackets I5I formed integral with the arms I41 and adapted to be engaged by the flat surface I52 of the supporting boss of the arcuate frames I48. Pivotally carried by the arcuate frames I48 are clamp members I53, one

pair of such clamp members being carried by each arcuate frame, and these clamp members are pivotally carried by the arcuate frames by means of pins I54 which are adapted to be positioned in either pair of receiving holes I55 and I56, dependent upon the diameter of the fruit being processed.

Means are provided for yieldably urging parallel arms I44 and I46 toward each other to yieldably urge the clamp members I53 toward clamping position. This means as herein illustrated includes the springs I51 which are wound upon the supporting pins I43 and are tied at their respective ends to pins I58 and I59, respectively, 

